Since 2019, Breaking Wave Theatre Company (BWTC) has produced Unspoken, a collection of original works that explore the themes of mental health, suicide prevention, and substance abuse. These powerful works, written and performed by local community members, bring to light important conversations and stories that should never be left unspoken.
Unspoken; Highlights from the Heart (2022)
Since 2019, Breaking Wave Theatre Company (BWTC) has produced Unspoken, a collection of original works that explore the themes of mental health, suicide prevention, and substance abuse. Unspoken; Highlights from the Heart is a showcase of some of the works from years past. These powerful works, written and performed by local community members, bring to light important conversations and stories that should never be left unspoken.
Streaming Now
Unspoken; Highlights from the Heart (30 minute version) is streaming in support of GuamTime's 8 for Mental Health Campaign until May 31, 2022. In celebration of Mental Health Month, they are hosting 8 events throughout May. Each event incorporates one of the the 8 Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, physical, spiritual, social, environmental, financial, occupational, and intellectual wellness). *Proceeds from all events and online donations will support local mental health programs.
Stream Unspoken; Highlights from the Heart (60 minute version) as part of CAATA ConFest's Virtual Showcase, only through May 29th, 2022.
Register here for CAATA's ConFest Virtual Showcase and stream amazing six AAPI theater productions and panels and interviews with AAPI theatre leaders. Registration includes a year-long membership with CAATA.
Unspoken; Volume III - Reaching Across (2021)
In 2019, Breaking Wave Theatre Company (BWTC) premiered Unspoken; A Mental Health Anthology - a collection of local works and an original musical that explored the topics of mental health and suicide prevention on Guam. The production made waves through the community for its use of creative and original content to bring to light the important issues of mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. After the success of the production and the growing mental health crisis that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt that it was important to continue the work that our 2019 production started. With this in mind, BWTC produced Unspoken; Volume II, Live from Home, a virtual production that continued the conversation through the use of original works from creatives on Guam and beyond.
After the events of 2020, we know that now, more than over, the work and the conversations must continue. The increased social isolation along with the myriad of challenges we have all faced have led to a continued rise in suicide rates and substance abuse issues. One of the first steps in the battle to destigmatize these issues is by bringing awareness and talking about it, and we hope to do just that by presenting Unspoken; Volume III, Reaching Across this September 2021.
Unspoken; Volume II, Live from Home (2020)
Unspoken; Volume II, which premiered live on Zoom in September 2020, continued the ongoing conversation about mental health and suicide prevention on the island of Guam as our community continued to tackle an added hurdle- the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we took it “Live From Home” with a series of works about mental health in 2020 from creatives on Guam and beyond.
We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support for Unspoken; Volume II, Live from Home. We would like to thank everyone who made this show possible. Thank you to our BWTC Board of Directors for their continued dedication to producing work that is relevant and meaningful. Thank you to our suicide prevention partners - Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, their Prevention and Training Branch - the PEACE Office, I Pinangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program, and Mañe'lu. These groups along with other amazing community organizations work hard year round to support our community, and we are so grateful to be able to partner up with them for shows like this. Thank you to our directors, Joyce Torres and Yz Jasa, to our production team, to our authors, and to our actors. This show would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication.
Unspoken; A Mental Health Anthology (2019)
In 2019, Breaking Wave Theatre Company and the UOG Theatre presented our production of Unspoken; A Mental Health Anthology - a collection of local works and an original musical that explored the topics of mental health and suicide prevention. The show was composed of three components, beginning with Let’s Talk, a piece that was completely written and performed by high school participants. It was a collection of letters, scenes, and movement pieces that all addressed mental health from the teenage perspective. Following this was Community Speaks, a short series of locally written monologues, poems, and songs that all engaged in the larger show theme of mental health and suicide prevention. The show included with On the Inside: A Mental Health Musical, written by Joyce Torres and CJ Ochoco, with musical arrangement by Shannon San Nicolas.
With a team of over 70 actors, authors, technicians, and more involved with the show, this project represented Breaking Wave Theatre Company’s vision to unite artists for social causes and to give back to the community through the arts. Unspoken; A Mental Health Anthology aimed to open up the conversation about mental health and suicide prevention in hopes of breaking the silence and fighting the stigma surrounding this issues.
This project was supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, a Division of the Department of Chamorro Affairs, Government of Guam, and the Office of the Governor.
It was also supported by our generous sponsors and community partners: Sorensen Media Group, Pacific Daily News, University of Guam College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Future Smiles Orthodontics, JamzMedia, Wendy’s & Coldstone Creamery, Moylan's NetCare, and I PInangon Campus Suicide Prevention Program